Jury wants crosswalk by Richwood schools

The Ouachita Parish Police Jury passed a resolution Monday night asking the United States and Louisiana departments of transportation to build a crosswalk over U.S. 165 near Richwood High School.

Ollibeth Reddix, District D, said pedestrian traffic is very high because people travel from the neighborhoods across the highway to various activities at the middle and high schools and library. A crosswalk above the highway would make crossings safer.

“We felt this was a worthy, worthy cause,” Reddix said. “It’s a good thing for the school and the library.”

Reddix and Pat Moore, District F, have reached out to state Rep. Marcus Hunter and state Sen. Francis Thompson for help with funding for the project.

The jury accepted a bid from R.D. Owens Construction to begin a ditch project in the Charmingdale Subdivision.

The bid of $44,000 was the lowest the jury received, and a $39,000 grant from the Louisiana Governor’s Assistance Program will cover most of the costs.

The project will clean and regrade more than 5,000 feet of ditches, which should help with flooding. Construction is set to begin within 30 days.

“Once this is done, I’m expecting great things for the subdivision,” Moore said.

Monday’s meeting was the jury’s first of 2014. Jurors elected officers and assigned committee heads for the year. No positions changed.

Shane Smiley, District E, will continue to serve as president. Walt Caldwell, District C, will continue to serve as vice president.

“I certainly appreciate the support of my colleagues,” Smiley said upon his re-election to the presidency.

Though she offered no nominations, Moore noted that an African-American had not served as jury president in many years, much to the disappointment of some of her constituents.